Charlie is an Inspiration in the midst of....everything!

I have long been bewildered by the world, its order, its disorder, its beauty and its power and am even more so now, in these pandemic days that is. I have seen deeds, read words and heard songs of love that serve to perspectivize the pandemic and life itself; many are creative and inspiring. The source of inspiration seems at first to be the words and deeds themselves but it may rather be the thought that there are people who are capable of such writing and songs and deeds – and that some are my friends. Always knew they were gifted.

But I’m a pretty simple guy. My recent night time reading was Volume 1 of Charlie Brown’s ‘Cyclopedia...Featuring Your Body” (1980). It took maybe 4 nights to get through its 54 pages. The section on “What is a Virus” was notable but there was no mention of the current beast of course. Many of the other sections could form a good Trivia game for all of us as we look for stuff to do and think about. How about these gnarly questions...

• What is a Funny Bone?
• Why do you shiver on a cold day?
• What actually are “Goose Bumps”
• Why do you drop a hot potato?
• Why are some people ticklish and others not?
• What is an Adam’s Apple?
• What is the process of sneezing?

And here’s a few facts I gleaned from Charlie. (I trust him and did not fact check any).

• Hair grows faster in summer and averages about 3/4 inches / month
• The longest sneezing fit (in 1980) was 155 days!
• People have about 100,000 hairs on their heads. (Those were the days my friend).
• We have 206 bones, 1/2 of which are in hands and feet.
• H2O is =~ 60% of body weight.
• We breath about 11,000 litres of air in and out a day.
• Our skin weighs twice as much as our brain.

So, thanks again to Charles and Charlie, Snoopy, Woodstock and all the others...you are all continuing lights in the middle of a dark tunnel.

Keep on keeping on eh!

Short Poem of the Month...Jan 2020

I asked a friend a friend about a one act play that my diary tells me he wrote in 1964. I commented in review that I found it quite humorous and pertinent. About our love lives, I think.

He sadly recounted he'd both forgotten ever writing it and regardless, had no manuscripts anywhere. He allowed though, that he used to write the odd ditty-poem (yes,"ditty"). He was good enough to share one and, here it is: Put your self in the Rockies on a lovely Summer Day and then...read on eh, and appreciate our art.

Asinine Alliteration

"The majestic moose meandered down the darkened dawn participating perceptively in a yodeling yawn."

.

Jarvis Collegiate: The School, the Building, the Legends

There was an article in my newspaper the other day that posited there has been spotty and inconsistent development around the Jarvis and Wellesley intersection in Toronto and that more should be done city-wide to respect, protect and showcase old iconic homes like the Massey mansion. I agree.

Notwithstanding some uncoordinated and appealing buildings in the area, there is one structure at the intersection that is very special, viz. the Jarvis Collegiate Institute building on the south east corner. Jarvis the school is over 210 years old. It is the second oldest high school in Ontario and the oldest in Toronto. The current building was built in 1924 and exudes the elegance of Gothic Revival architecture. It has seen two major renovations/additions since then but the beautiful facade and halls of the building have been maintained. The impressive front stairs from Jarvis Street lead into a grand, welcoming foyer. The famous George Reid historical murals in the auditorium have survived and are to be treasured. The walls still speak of the thousands who have studied within them over nearly a century. The school and the building are sources of great pride for former and present students and staff. They should be celebrated by everyone. We should not allow the building to be tarnished by criticisms of other area developments. JCI will continue to anchor that corner proudly and share its personality with the City. It will keep on keeping on eh. Stop and look at it next time you're in the area. It's OK to stare. 

The Incredible Dandelion; Canada's national Flower?

Read the other day (in the Toronto Star; article by Sonia Day) that the Master Gardeners of Ontario are holding a vote to name "Canada's National Flower" in this, our 150th year. They have narrowed their acceptable /recommended choice to three; "Hooded Ladies Tresses"; Twin Flower"; and "Bunchberry". Wow! 

It's Hard for me to vote for any of the three finalists, not being sure I have seen any of them! 

Rather in my corner ladies, gentlemen and others, we have the Incredible Dandelion. Most Canadians (at least in the southern parts) have a love-hate relationship with these little asexual plants. I know they’re not proprietary to Canada, but then, most Canadians are transplants from somewhere. Like Canadians, they’re resilient beyond belief; you just can’t keep them down; they’re extremely practical ‘cause you can eat the whole thing; better still you can make some wine from them along the way making it a medicinal Plant not needing Government regulation*. They come to life every year in the spring after a long Canadian winter and it seems like every one of them has survived!  They spread their seeds in the wind like we spread our ideas of multi-culturalism, peace and hockey around the world. Maybe best of all, they’re bi-lingual! The name “Dandelion” comes from the French “dent-de-lion” meaning “Lion’s Tooth”. My thought: make The Incredible Dandelion a write-in candidate in the Master Gardeners of Ontario’s vote for Canada’s National Flower. It should win hands down.

* For one take on the good parts check out https://altnature.com/gallery/dandelion.htm  Dr. G will turn up lots more! 

                                             

Ah, What's in a Fortune Cookie?

Some of you may have wondered over the years, “Who put the ‘Ding’ in ‘Ding - a ding- a ding dong’” and in the same spirit I’ll bet you – like I - have long anguished over the questions of:  

• “Who puts the fortunes in fortune cookies?”
• “How do the fortunes get into the cookies?”  
• “Who are the seers and fortune tellers who conjure up and ordain the true fortunes that make it into the cookies that reach millions every day?  (I was going to say “who” reach ….” because the cookies can be personified can’t they? Each speaks a personally developed and personally targeted message)
• “How many fortunes are in the Great Fortune (Cookie) Library?” (If there is a”Great Pumpkin Patch” as postulated by Linus, there must be a “Great Fortune (Cookie) Library”.  Am I right, or am I right?
• And, just what are those numbers at the bottom of some fortunes and why are there always (usually?) six numbers? 

These have been important questions for me. Regardless, they’ve evolved into today’s purveyors of meaningful personal commentaries.  I open each cookie I’m gifted with a mix of trepidation and excitement and always, with an unbridled sense of hopefulness. I’ve saved a few of my fortunes to provide inspiration on rainy days, and sunny days and just about any other time. I even put a few in my wallet so they’re available for inspiration anywhere, anytime. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one! 

So I went to the internet - the source of all truths (everything on the web is true, isn’t it?) -  to discover, inter alia, the following:  

• The cookie – with – a - message has a history dating back to the 13th century when they were used to pass secret messages during timed of war. Well, that’s one view anyway. Others think was actually a Japanese product and that the fortune orientation was created in the US. 

• There are reported to be about 5 Billion cookies sold worldwide each year. The biggest player seems to be Wonton Food Inc., originally from New York, but now with plants in Texas and Tennessee as well. The info I read suggests they produce some 5 million cookies per day which are sold in the US, Canada, Latin America and Europe.  See www.wontonfood.co

• In my neck of the Wings Food Products seems to own the fortune cookie market.  It is a family owned business in the Toronto area with a plant in Edmonton as well. It started making and distributing noodles, but has added a full range of Asian products including fortune cookies which have become an important part of the business. “Its people” make/bake the cookies and write the fortunes in the cookies.  See www.wings.ca . I am informed they have many thousands of fortunes in their library…each one itching to be a match with you. 

I intend to do some work on this subject, but until then, you can some more yourself. A couple of obvious sites are: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune_cook   and

https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=ssl#q=who+writes+the+fortunes+in+fortune+cookies  

And as to some of my favs, here's a few, in no particular order or sequence….read deeply, breathe deeply, meditate with and without thought and just imagine a better “me” and a better world too, one that will indeed “Keep on Eh”!

• You tune in intuitively to people and situations immediately and intensely
• You have keen intuition and emotional sensitivity
• Be your yourself and you will always be in fashion
• You are sociable and entertaining
• Good health will be yours for a long time
• Your magnetic personality will draw people to you
• You have keen intuition and emotional sensitivity
• You have a slow and unhurried natural rhythm
• Think long term
• Smiling will take away your worries
• You are demonstrative with those you love
• Firm friendships will prove to be the foundation of your success in life 
• Sometimes travel to new places leads to great transformation
• You are heading to a land of great sunshine (Manchu Wok)
• Friends long absent are coming back to you
• Keep it up…success is on its way
• You will manufacture a phenomenon
• You will always have good luck in your personal affairs
• Your artistic talent will win the approval and applause of others
• You are very grateful for the small pleasures of life
• This is really a lovely day….congratulations!
• A large sum of money will come to you (shortly)
• You will be recognized for your great achievements
• Enjoy Life! It is better to be happy than wise.

Let me know what your All Time Fortune Cookie Fortunes are! All fodder I think for long conversations, meditations and personal enlightenment. Let's all Keep on (getting better) eh.

Hockey Thoughts from Downtown

A little guy downtown said to me;

“The NHL I don’t trust, but in the game I still must.”

I asked how that could be.

“Because my skates are sharp and the ice is still fast

and my heart in the game is forever to last.

My comrades on side I will always abide.”

He went on to say with such little delay:

“Oh how I feel that strong, smooth stride

as I swoop on the net…that I’ll score is a  bet

but I pass to my friend who’s swifter than I…

he scores I think… or surely I’ll die.

That’s the end of my thought but not of my dream

Maybe Mom and Dad will buy us ice cream.”

I wondered about the kid’s story.

Did the friend score? I don’t know, but sure there was glory

for trying his best and playing with zest

the game we still love that’s such a great test.

love by the kids will survive big interest unrest.

E Bikes are the Cat's Meow!

An e-bike is to cycling and mobility what the vote is to freedom and democracy...they both enable people!

An E-Bike is a  2 or 3- wheeled bike with bike gears and brakes that can be pedaled like a regular cycle but that also provides you with a battery-powered motor that'll help you when you need it. Millions of e-bikes are in operation around the world. They may seem new to us in Canada, but they are firmly entrenched in most European and Asian countries and pretty well every where else in the world. Some are classic bicycles, others look more like a motor scooter; I am opining about the former.

E-bikes are safe; they are accepted by people young and old; their performance is proven on city streets, bike trails and pathways and even in factory settings. They are reliable enough that police and emergency workers ride them in many communities. They are convenient; parking is free in most areas. You can ride them (almost!)* anywhere you can ride a pedal-only bike. You do not need a driver's test or licence to ride. You do not need vehicle registration and plates. You do not need liability insurance. Some models fold up for easy storage in apartments, condos, boats and RVs. Other models fit on a bike rack comfortably so they can go with you to town, or camping or to Florida. With ever-better Lithium batteries they have "legs;' you can get up to 60 kms on one charge. Best of all, they're cleaner and greener than motor scooters. And, they are price competitive with middle to upper end pedal-only bikes. 

* There are in my neck of the woods, some trail snobs who continue to deny e-bike riders (some e-bike needers) the legal permission to ride the extensive trail system around my hometown. They can walk or run their huge dogs, race around on their multi-speed titanium road bikes, but an older person who needs a little lift can't ride their bikes on the trails. Wake up eh.